Two Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, Roop Singh and Ajoy, and an Afghan national working with the embassy, Niyamatullah, were also killed in the attack, the Minister told a hurriedly-called press conference.

A high-level team led by Mr Nalin Surie of the External Affairs Ministry is being rushed to Kabul, the Minister added.

A Reuters reports said that 41 people were killed and at least 141 wounded in the suicide attack.